Golf course

ABSTRACT

A golf course layout having a plurality of holes in which each hole includes a T-area, at least one landing zone having a limited landing area, and a green having a cup therein. The landing area may be a depression, inclined toward the tee, delineated by surface markings and made either of a turf-like putting grass material or a material such as sand to impede the ball. The game is played so that the player must land the ball in the limited landing area prior to advancing the ball toward the green for eventual sinking of the ball in the cup. The layout provides different paths of varying difficulty for each of the different stages of play so that the rules may be tailored to accommodate the game to the skill of the player. Varying degrees of difficulty are provided by interposing hazards in the direct path between the tees and the landing areas which require the player to advance the ball airborne over the hazard or putt the ball along the ground surface around the hazard in a curved circuitous path. Assistance is provided in maintaining the ball in the curved path by banking the ground surface in a manner to assist the circuitous travel of the ball.

[ GOLF COURSE Alexander Garber, 261 Church Street, Apt. 34, Kingston,Pa. 18704 [22] Filed: Feb. 17, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 116,002

[72] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl ..273/176 AB, 273/176 J [51] Int. Cl. ..A63b 67/02 [58]Field ofSearch ..273/176 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS3,599,980 8/1971 Harmond ..273/176 A 1,851,423 3/1932 ..273/176 A3,156,470 11/1964 ..273/176 AB 2,794,646 6/1957 .....273/176 F 2,846,2298/1958 Morris ..273/176 AB 1,322,058 11/1919 Rowley ..273/176 AB3,427,030 2/1969 Ward ..273/176 AB 2,157,023 5/1939 Shannon ..273/176 BX 1 June 20, 1972 Primary Examiner-George J. Marlo Attomey-Howson &Howson ABSTRACT A golf course layout having a plurality of holes inwhich each hole includes a T-area, at least one landing zone having alimited landing area, and a green having a cup therein. The landing areamay be a depression, inclined toward the tee, delineated by surfacemarkings and made either of a turf-like putting grass material or amaterial such as sand to impede the ball. The game is played so that theplayer must land the ball in the limited landing area prior to advancingthe ball toward the green for eventual sinking of the ball in the cup.The layout provides different paths of varying difficulty for each ofthe different stages of play so that the rules may be tailored toaccommodate the game to the skill of the player. Varying degrees ofdifficulty are provided by interposing hazards in the direct pathbetween the tees and the landing areas which require the player toadvance the ball airborne over the hazard or putt the ball along theground surface around the hazard in a curved circuitous path. Assistanceis provided in maintaining the ball in the curved path by banking theground surface in a manner to assist the circuitous travel of the ball.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUH20 I972 3,671,042

SHEET 10F 2 INVENTOR: ALEXANDER GAR BER ATT'YS.

PATENTEDJum m2 SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTORI ALEXANDER GARBER ATTYS.

GOLF COURSE The present invention relates to golf course layouts and hasparticular application to a layout in which the series of holes providethe opportunity for an interesting pastime for both the unskilled golferand the golfer who is proficient.

The standard full-size golf course is designed for the golfer with atleast a reasonable amount of skill in playing the game. For theunskilled golfer, the play of the full standard course requires aninordinate amount of time and may lead to severe frustration.

Various attempts have been made to design courses which reduce thedistance which must be traveled by the player when playing the fullcourse, but in every instance, the shortening of the course renders thecourse unsuitable for the skilled player as being too easy so that thegame is not appealing to a proficient golfer, and does not assist thenovice in obtaining the skills which are required to permit the playerto enjoy playing a full course.

The course layout of the present invention may be accommodated tovarious sites of widely differing acreage, and is particularly adaptedfor a site of small acreage which is sufficiently compact to be heatedfor use in chilled climates and/or to be floodlighted for play afterdark.

The layout permits the use of standard components which may befabricated from the natural elements at the site, or may beprefabricated and erected at the site. The various components areselected to impart varying degrees of difficulty to the play and mayhave novel characteristics which challenge the skills which are requiredof the golfer on a full course and thus enable the skilled golfer toobtain practice of those shots with which he is experiencing difficultyon the full course.

The present invention contemplates that the course may be used by thegolfer to improve his putting game, and the layout has provision forenabling the player to putt the ball throughout the entire course.

All of the objects of the invention are fully set forth hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of the layout for one hole of a course showingin broken lines the alternate routes for approaching the two landingareas.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged transverse section taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of another hole in a course embodying thepresent invention showing different hazards than those present in thehole shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is an illustration of still another hole of a course laid out inaccordance with the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, it should be noted that each hole of thecourse layout includes a T-area from which play is initiated for thathole and a cup into which the balls are sunk to terminate the play forthat hole. Intermediate the tee area and the cup, preferably asubstantial distance from each, is located at least one landing zonehaving a landing area of limited extent. Each hole is designed toprovide alternate paths of travel for the ball, and preferably the pathsare designed to require degrees of skill varying from limited skill toproficiency. Where persons of different skill or proficiency are playingthe course together, rules may be adopted which require the more skilledplayer to follow the more difficult paths and to be penalized formissing targets or failing to follow the prescribed path. In any event,it is contemplated that each player must stroke the ball from the T toeach intermediate landing area and finally to sink the ball into thecup.

The drawings illustrate typical holes of a course layout, but it shouldbe understood that each course embodying the present invention will haveits own unique characteristics, in accordance with the climate or theterrain where the course is installed. Referring to the hole shown inFIG. 1, the tee area 11 comprises an elevated surface 12 of turf or thelike having markers at 13 which serve as indicators for the line fromwhich play is initiated. In the present case, the elevated surface 12 iscapable of withstanding the rigors of golfers stroking a golf ball witheither a pitching wedge or a putter. The surface may be a hardy naturalgrass turf as at 12a, may be an artificial turf as at 12b, or may be apile fabric such as indoor-outdoor carpeting, where appropriate. In FIG.1, a combination of different surfaces is provided to accommodate to theuse of different clubs by the players. The selection of the material forthe surface of 12 is determined by the climatic or atmosphericconditions, the exposure, and the traffic which is anticipated.

As indicated by the broken lines in FIG. 1, the Player must stroke theball into a limited landing area of a landing zone 21. In the presentinstance, the landing zone 21 has a marking or indicia 22 defining agenerally circular landing area 23 of limited size. The surface of thelanding area 23, in the present instance, is inclined toward the playerP on the T 11. The ball may be stroked into the landing area 23 eitherthrough the air as indicated by the dot-and-dash lines 25 or along theground surface as indicated by the dashed lines 26. It is noted that thesurface path 26 requires the ball to be putted from the elevated surface12 down onto a wide pathway 27 which merges gradually into the inclinedsurface of the landing area 23. The wide pathway 27 is preferably a turfwhich provides smooth and direct travel of the ball along the surfacethereof. The turf may be either natural or artificial, and is preferablysimilar in surface effect to the surface of a standard putting green.Thus when the ball is stroked, as in putting, from the T- spotdetermined by the markers 13-13, it will be projected along the surfaceof the pathway 27, as indicated by the dashed lines 26 into the landingarea 23.

Alternatively, the ball may be pitched into the landing area by the useof a pitching wedge from the initiating spot on the T 1 1. This airbornestroke is indicated by the dot-and-dash lines at 25. It is noted thatthe front of the T along the surface 12b has an abrupt drop-off since itis not used by the players who putt. The landing area 23, being inclinedin this instance, is of a character to inhibit the bounce of the ballwhen it is pitched thereinto, and impedes the roll or other travel ofthe ball along the surface thereof. The surface of the area 23 may be aspecially designed turf of natural or synthetic character, or maycomprise a sandy, pebbly or other particulate material which will absorbthe impact of the ball and cushion the normal resilient reaction forcesthereof. The nature of the surface in the area 23 renders it difficultto stroke the ball from the surface to the next landing area andaccordingly a secondary T- area is provided at 29 in the landing zone 21adjacent the area 23. The rules of the game for this hole may providethat once the ball lands within the indicia 22, it may be transferred tothe T-area 29 without loss of stroke or other penalty. Thus thesecondary tee area 29 is deemed to be part of the landing zone 21.

In the hole illustrated in FIG. 1, the player must stroke the ball fromT-area 29 in the landing zone 21 into a second landing zone 31. Thelanding zone 31 has indicia means 32, in the present instance surfacemarkings on a level with the surrounding area, defining a limitedlanding area 33. In the continuing play of the hole, the players mustpropel the ball from the tee 29 into the landing area 33, and as in theapproach to the first landing area 23, the players have alternate pathsrespectively airborne as indicated in dot-and-dash lines at 35, andalong the surface as indicated by the dashed line 36. It is noted thatthe dashed line 36 follows a broad path 37 which curves around a hazard,in the present instance a water hazard 38 in the form of a pond or pool.Since the secondary T 29 is elevated above the pathway 37, a gradualslope or ramp from the secondary T-29 onto the path 37 is provided asindicated at 34.

Since the hazard 38 is positioned in the direct line from the secondaryT 29 to the landing area 33 of the landing zone 31, the surface route 36is arcuate or curved as shown. In order to assist the player using thesurface route and enable the player to reach the landing area 33 in asingle stroke, the pathway 37 is banked as indicated at 39 to direct theball in the curved path shown. Withreference to the sectional view shownin FIG. 2, it is apparent that the pathway 37 and the banking at 39serves to deflect the ball B from its straight-line path of normaltravel into a gentle curve, for example as indicated by the dashed linesat 36. The shallow banking illustrated in FIG. 2 may be increased orreduced to accommodate the course to the rolling action applied to theball B by the surface of the pathway 37. A frictionless surface, ofcourse, will require a steeper banking to insure deflection of the ballfrom the normal straight-line path of propulsion whereas a surface withgreater friction will require less banking.

In the present instance, the path 37 is shown having a surface ofartificial turf 41 laid on a substrate 42 of earth and having thebanking support provided by curbing at 43. Beyond the curbing in FIG. 2,the out-of-bounds area is being composed of natural turf at 44. Therules of the course may or may not provide for penalties in the eventthat the player propels the ball beyond the pathway 37 into theout-of-bounds area, or may require the players to stroke the ball backinto the playing area. A lateral hazard is provided at 45 adjacent thelanding area 33 in the landing zone 31 to impart a further degree ofdifficulty to this stage of the play.

In the present instance, the surface from the secondary tee 29 to andthrough the landing area 33 is of uniform texture which insures theproper roll of the ball along the surface, for example when stroked by aputter or similar golfing iron.

When the ball has come to rest in the limited landing area 33, theplayer may then stroke the ball toward the cup 51 which is beyond thelanding area. In the present instance, the cup 51 is positionedsufficiently close to accommodate putting from the landing area 33directly into the cup 51. The surface of the course between the landingarea 33 and the cup 51 is preferably of the uniform texture which ischaracteristic of putting courses and putting greens. In the presentinstance, the normal putting path is indicated by the dashed line 56 andthe cup identified by the usual flag marker 59. Hazards may be providednearby the cup 51, for example by sandtraps 58.

In the hole illustrated in FIG. 1, the ball travels over a pathway 57between the landing area 33 and the cup 51, and the pathway 57 is ofsubstantial width terminating along one side in a banked edge 54 andalong the other side and beyond the hole in the edge of a fringe 53 ofnatural turf or the like. It is noted that the cup 51 is spaced a gooddistance from the fringe so that overshooting of the cup in approachingit does not severely handicap the player.

In the hole layout shown in FIG. 1,'the landing areas in each zone arelimited in size so that their greatest transverse dimension isapproximately one-fourth of the distance which the ball must travel inapproaching the landing zone. It is believed that this ratio provides asufiicient challenge for a reasonably proficient golfer withoutexcessively handicapping the novice golfer. If it is desired to providea greater challenge to the proficient golfer, the landing area mayinclude a central secondary landing area of smaller size into which theskilled golfer must land his ball before proceeding to the next landingarea or to the cup, as the case may be. Of course, the distance betweenthe various zones of the hole may be expanded or contracted toaccommodate to the land available for the course and the placement ofthe hazards may be varied.

As a variation, FIG. 3 shows a hole which is short relative to the holeshown in FIG. 1. Throughout this hole the course is level, having a teearea 61 which is on a level with the remainder of the course and whichhas T-markers 63--63 for indicating the proper point from which the playof the hole should be started. From the T-area 61, the players mustpropel the ball to the landing zone 71 having a limited landing area 73defined by marking indicia 72 on the ground surface. Within the landingarea 73, hummocks 74 are provided to impart a degree of difficulty tothe play. The landing zone 71 also includes a sandtrap 75 adjoining thelanding area 72. The landing zone 71 is defined on its outer perimeterby an edging 76 of grass fringe or the like.

As in the previous hole, the ball may be advanced to the landing area 73by either an airborne route or a surface route. The 'airbome route isindicated by the dot-and-dash line 65, whereas the surface route isindicated by the dashed line 66. It

is noted that the direct path between the tee zone 61 and the landingzone 71 is interrupted by a large sandtrap hazard 68 and the surfaceroute 66 must circumvent the trap 68. In this instance, alternatesurface routes are provided on the opposite sides of the trap and eachof the two alternate routes includes a level pathway 67 bordered on oneside by the hazard 68 and bordered on the other side by a banked curbing69. The curbing 69 is similar to the curbing 39 described above andserves to assist in directing the ball being stroked along the surfacetoward the landing area in a circuitous path around the hazard 68.

After the player causes the ball to stop in the limited landing area 72,he may then putt the ball into the cup 81 having a small green 82surrounding it, the limits of the green 82 being defined by a fringeedging at 83. The surface path from the landing area 72 to the cup 81 isindicated by the dashed line 86. As in the previous hole, the cup ismarked by a flag marker 87.

FIG. 4 illustrates a hole embodying further variations within the scopeof the invention. In this hole, the T-area 91 comprises a teeing surface92 which is level with the ground surface on three sides and is elevatedabove the ground surface on the fourth side. Markers are provided 9393to indicate the proper starting point for the ball. In the presentinstance, the elevated side of the tee area 91 faces a landing zone 101to which the ball must be stroked. The landing zone 101 includes anelevated landing area of limited size as indicated at 103 having asmooth level surface terminating at the periphery 102. The space betweenthe tee 91 and the landing zone 101 forms a valley 98 which constitutesa hazard interrupting the direct line between the T and the landingzone. The sharp falloff from the T to the valley floor and the sharprise from the valley floor to the landing area require the provision ofan alternate pathway bypassing the valley floor 98. The alternatepathway is provided at 97, and in this case, the pathway is of limitedwidth, as shown, in the form of a trough or gutter having sloping sideswhich assist in directing the ball in a curved path extending from thetee 91 to the landing zone 101 as indicated by the dashed lines 96. Witha more proficient golfer, an airborne route directly over the valley maybe employed as indicated by the dot-and-dash line 95.

From the landing area 103, the ball is stroked to the next landing zone111, which in this case comprises a depressed landing area 113 definedby a gradually sloping periphery as indicated at 1 12. Alternate air andground routes are provided as indicated by the dotand-dash line 105 andthe dashed line 106 respectively. The ground route is hazardous byreason of the presence, in the direct line between the landing areas 103and 113, a series of hummocks 108 which rise from the surface of thepathway 107 intermediate the landing areas. Preferably the hummocks arestaggered as shown and their sides are banked so that by proper strokingof the ball, the elevated sides of the hummocks which are in the path ofthe ball serve to deflect the ball around the hummocks. with developedskill, or with good fortune, the ground route between the landing areas103 and 113 may be traversed in a single stroke of the ball. To assistin this, the rear portion of the landing zone 101 is graded to form aramp 109 which initiates the travel of the ball from the landing area103 in the proper direction to attain the landing area 1 13.

From the landing area 1 13, the all is stroked toward the cup 121 whichin this instance is positioned in an elevated green 122. The green 122has multiple levels which substantially increase the difficulty ofminimizing the strokes necessary to sink the ball in the cup 121. Inthis case, alternate air and ground routes are provided from the landingarea 113 as indicated by the dot-and-dash lines 115 and the dashed lines116. In order to facilitate exit of the ball from the depressed landingarea 113, the rim 112 of the area is graduated to provide an exit rampas indicated at 1 19 to provide a substantially smooth path of groundtravel along the line 116. Similarly, because of the multiple levelswhich make up the green 122, the ground travel must be circuitous sothat it is practically ime possible to sink the ball in one stroke usingthe ground route from the landing area 113. As with the holes in thecourse layout previously discussed, the cup 121 is marked with asuitable flag 129 and the surface treatment is such as to permitdirected putting of the ball over the ground surface.

As indicated above, the course of the present invention may be in a verycompact area, utilizing a minimum space when necessary. The entire areamay be floodlighted for use after dark, and may even be heated for usein chilled climates. With a compact course arrangement in which thevarious holes are spaced closely adjacent one another, the requirementfor landing the ball in a limited landing area discourages the playersfrom stroking the ball with excessive vigor and endangering otherplayers on the course with erratically propelled balls. When the courseis laid out in a larger area, the distances between the tees, thelanding areas, and cups are sufficiently great to require forcefulstrokes of the ball, the spacing between adjacent holes must beexpanded, or barriers must be provided between the holes, in order toprevent injury to players from balls propelled on adjacent holes.

It is apparent that the present invention, by the use of limited landingarea intermediate the tee and the cup enables the design of widelyvarying degrees of inherent difficulty in a single course. As indicated,the surface texture may be varied, the sizes of the landing areas may bevaried, the character of the subsurface may be altered to control thebounce or the run of the ball upon landing thereon.

Because of the variations which may be built into the course, the coursemay be accommodated to provide worthwhile competition among players ofdifferent skills. For example by requiring the more proficient playersto utilize the more difiicult avenues of play, the novice player maylose his competitive disadvantage, thereby enabling the skillful playerto enjoy playing the course in competition with a novice and vice versa.

In drawings, the landscaping of the course has been omitted in order toclarify the illustration of the play of the game. If the characteristicsof the climate and the terrain where the course location permit itobviously the course will be landscaped with shrubs and trees to enhancethe ornamental characteristics of the course and to provide the naturalconditions desirable to maintain the course in proper shape. Thelandscaping, if desired, may also be used as an element of the hazardswhich are utilized in the course. For example; instead of the hummocks108, the pathway 107 may be tree-covered, or may be provided with hedgesor other shrubbery to intercept the direct path between the two landingareas.

The course may employ the natural elements in the terrain as hazards, orwhere the character of the terrain or the equipment available at thesite limits the use of natural elements; prefabricated components may beused. For example, a preformed elevated T-structure having a covering ofartificial turf may be set in place to define the T-area. Likewise thelanding zones having the limited landing areas defined therein may beprefabricated and simply set in place in the projected course layout.The cups may be the conventional putting cup sunk into the surface, orraised artificial cups of the type used for indoor putting installationsmay be employed.

With the foregoing in mind, it is apparent that the invention is notlimited to the particular embodiments disclosed and described herein indetail, but various changes and modifications may be made therein andthereto within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A golf course comprising a plurality of holes, each hole having aT-area, a cup, and at least one landing zone spaced intermediate saidtee area and said cup at a substantial distance from each, the landingzone of at least one of said holes having indicia means comprisingvisually contrasting surface markings forming a closed border loopdefining the outline of a predetermined landing area of limited extentwithin the landing zone of said one hole, said landing area having aturf-like surface texture therein, and means roviding a putting pathwayhaving a continuous turf-like s ace texture extending from said landingarea to the cup of said one hole to permit putting of said golf ballalong said pathway away from said landing area into the cup of said onehole.

2. A course according to claim 1 wherein another of said landing zonescomprises a landing area having a surface texture difl'erent from saidturf-like surface texture and adapted to arrest the golf ball uponimpact thereon without substantial bounce or roll therefrom. v

3. A golf course according to claim 2 wherein said last mentioneddifferently textured landing area is inclined to face a T- area.

4. A golf course according to claim 1 wherein another of said landingzones includes a depressed landing area, and inwardly and downwardlysloping walls surrounding said depressed landing area.

5. A golf course according to claim 1 wherein another of said landingzones includes a limited landing area defied by an abrupt change in thecontour of the surface around the periphery of the limited landing area.

6. A golf course according to claim 1 including hazard means providing asurface area which limits ground travel of the ball across the surfaceof said hazard means, said surface area of said hazard means beingintermediate a T-area and a landing zone in a direct line therebetween,a continuous putting path between said last mentioned T-area and landingzone characterized by a turf-like surface texture and a uniformity ofsurface texture throughout its length which enhances the rolling of agolf ball along said path without its being deviated from said path bysurface irregularity therein, said putting path circumventing saidhazard means whereby said last mentioned landing area may be reachedeither by propelling the ball airborne from said last mentioned tee areato said last mentioned landing area, or by propelling said ball alongthe surface of said putting path around said hazard means.

7. A golf course comprising a plurality of holes, each hole having aT-area, a cup, and a landing zone having a predetermined landing area oflimited extent defined by indicia forming a closed border loop definingthe outline of said area, at least one hole having means providing ahazard including a surface area which makes difficult ground travel ofthe ball thereacross, said hazard surface area being located in either adirect line extending from the T-area to the landing zone or a directline extending from the landing area to the cup, and a continuousputting path circumventing said hazard, said path characterized by aturf-like surface texture throughout its length and width, and auniformity of surface texture throughout its length, said path beingarcuate in plan to circumvent said hazard, the marginal portion of thepath being banked throughout the arcuate part by having a shallowconcave cross section whose exposed surface consists of said turflikesurface texture for gradually deflecting the ball into the arcuate path.

1. A golf course comprising a plurality of holes, each hole having a T-area, a cup, and at least one landing zone spaced intermediate said tee area and said cup at a substantial distance from each, the landing zone of at least one of said holes having indicia means comprising visually contrasting surface markings forming a closed border loop defining the outline of a predetermined landing area of limited extent within the landing zone of said one hole, said landing area having a turf-like surface texture therein, and means providing a putting pathway having a continuous turf-like surface texture extending from said landing area to the cup of said one hole to permit putting of said golf ball along said pathway away from said landing area into the cup of said one hole.
 2. A course according to claim 1 wherein another of said landing zones comprises a landing area having a surface texture different from said turf-like surface texture and adapted to arrest the golf ball upon impact thereon without substantial bounce or roll therefrom.
 3. A golf course according to claim 2 wherein sAid last mentioned differently textured landing area is inclined to face a T-area.
 4. A golf course according to claim 1 wherein another of said landing zones includes a depressed landing area, and inwardly and downwardly sloping walls surrounding said depressed landing area.
 5. A golf course according to claim 1 wherein another of said landing zones includes a limited landing area defined by an abrupt change in the contour of the surface around the periphery of the limited landing area.
 6. A golf course according to claim 1 including hazard means providing a surface area which limits ground travel of the ball across the surface of said hazard means, said surface area of said hazard means being intermediate a T-area and a landing zone in a direct line therebetween, a continuous putting path between said last mentioned T-area and landing zone characterized by a turf-like surface texture and a uniformity of surface texture throughout its length which enhances the rolling of a golf ball along said path without its being deviated from said path by surface irregularity therein, said putting path circumventing said hazard means whereby said last mentioned landing area may be reached either by propelling the ball airborne from said last mentioned tee area to said last mentioned landing area, or by propelling said ball along the surface of said putting path around said hazard means.
 7. A golf course comprising a plurality of holes, each hole having a T-area, a cup, and a landing zone having a predetermined landing area of limited extent defined by indicia forming a closed border loop defining the outline of said area, at least one hole having means providing a hazard including a surface area which makes difficult ground travel of the ball thereacross, said hazard surface area being located in either a direct line extending from the T-area to the landing zone or a direct line extending from the landing area to the cup, and a continuous putting path circumventing said hazard, said path characterized by a turf-like surface texture throughout its length and width, and a uniformity of surface texture throughout its length, said path being arcuate in plan to circumvent said hazard, the marginal portion of the path being banked throughout the arcuate part by having a shallow concave cross section whose exposed surface consists of said turf-like surface texture for gradually deflecting the ball into the arcuate path. 